TWO police officers risked their lives to rescue a mother and daughter from a burning house.

"It could have been fatal - it was as serious as that," said Fire Station Officer Alan Powles.

Yesterday's fire, which almost claimed the lives of Alison Pugh and her 75-year-old mother, Josephine Pugh, began when an arsonist set fire to an old three-piece suit, which had been left propped against the women's house wall, waiting for removal to a skip.

The flames swept through the downstairs front window of the house and then through the window of Alison's bedroom, setting her curtains alight.

The burning foam filling of the old suite released thick, choking smoke which began to fill the house in Rottingdean Close, Roseworth, Stockton.

"It is fortunate there was a police patrol in the area," said Mr Powles, who is based at Stockton.

"They thought there was a car on fire, and thought they would be in time to catch those responsible."

The fire broke out just after 4.30am, when mother and daughter were asleep.

Despite not being able to enter the front of the house because of the intensity of the fire, PC Geoff Hart managed to wake Alison, who escaped through the back of the house.

She unlocked the back door, allowing Special Constable Richard Hedley to enter.

He scooped up her mother in his arms and carried her over four garden fences to safety, being bitten on the leg by a neighbour's dog in the process.

At first, Mrs Pugh would not leave the house, believing her daughter to be still inside.

SPC Hedley, a chemical process technician, said: "It's all part of the job."